question for headphone aficionados

[chris]

I just got a new pair of headphones for my birthday.  I wanted a pair of the $299.00 bose noise cancelling headphones, but since that seemed a little pricey for a gift I asked instead for a $65.00 pair of Philips noise cancelling headphones.  Well, my mom who meant well decided to get me a pair of Bose headphones from BestBuy that ran about $140.00 but don't have the noise cancelling technology.  I've tried to do some research on different versions of noise cancelling headphones but the reviews seem mixed (some people love the Bose, but others say that sony makes some good noise cancelling phones for about half the money).  I'm trying to decide whether to just keep the Bose headphones I have, return the Bose and get the cheaper Philips noise cancelling, return the Bose and save my money for the high priced noise cancelling Bose, or possibly looking into the semi-expensive Sony noise cancelling headphones.  Any ideas from those who have used any of these headphones?  Thanks.

[tomEisenbraun]

i really wish i could help, man, but i've got no expertise in noise-cancelling headphones. if you can deal without noise cancelling, my AKG 240S's are the most beautiful things I've ever put on my ears

[sweatboard]

If by "noisecanceling" you mean closed ear as opposed to open ear.....then I will tell you that most people will tell you that open ear sound better.  Closed ear are good if your trying to listen to music while somone else in the room is watching tv or shooting off bottle rockets, but if you are generally listening to your headphones in a quiet environment I would go with the open ear.  I've listened to some Bose and they were outstanding....I would probably just go with what you have now.  I would think that Bose makes better headphones than Sony.

[dragonboy]

Easier said than done, I know but try your best to test the different headphones out before you buy.
My wife bought me a very nice (rather expensive) pair off Sony wireless headphones for my B'day last year. The sound & reception are perfect but there is no way of adjusting the head band/strap, which means that they don't quite fit as perfectly as I would like.

I borrowed my friend's Bose noise canceling headphones for a trip a few years ago - they were simply amazing!